UNH Physics Department

Charles W. Smith

Space Science Center, Morse Hall, UNH, Durham, NH

The physics program at the University of New Hampshire, in collaboration with the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, offers a range of opportunities for students wishing to pursue advanced degrees in subfields of Physics. We have active programs in Condensed Matter, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Particle Theory, Medical Imaging, Space Physics and Physics Education. We have 37 faculty and approximately 60 graduate students. More information can be found at www.physics.unh.edu. The application deadline is February 1.

Condensed Matter and Materials Science:

Investigation of the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties.

Recent studies include:• Variable temperature Scanning

Tunneling Microscopy (STM)• Low-Energy Electron Microscopy• Directed Self-Assembly of Nanotemplates• Ion beam assisted deposition on thin films

Participation in the Material Science Program enhances the productivity through multi-department collaboration.

Space Physics and Astrophysics:

Development of ground-based, suborbital, and space-borne instruments for the study of complex, multi-dynamic, nonlinear processes.

Analysis of data and derivation of theoretical descriptions using analytical and numerical techniques.

Research spans solar, interplanetary, ionospheric, magnetospheric, and interstellar dynamic.

Space physics is E&M, fluids, thermo, stat. mech., atomic and nuclear physics.

Selecting a graduate school is a serious decision. Before you decide, come visit us and see what we can offer.

High-Energy Particle Theory:

Explorations of beyond Standard Model physics: • Supersymmetry, string theory and quantum gravity• Applications to cosmology and astro-particle physics.

Nuclear and Particle Physics:

Two primary areas of study:1. Searches for physics beyond

the standard model2. Structure of the nucleon and

light nuclei– How this can be understood in terms of the strong

interaction and spin degrees of freedomMission goals map to:

3. What is dark matter?4. Where is the missing spin of the nucleon?

Medical Imaging and Optics:

UNH Physics faculty are developing noninvasive methods of using nuclear-polarized xenon gas to image lung function.• Ventilation patterns reveal

patency of large and small airways• Diffusion distance of gas atoms on millisecond

timescales probe integrity of alveolar walls• Absorption of xenon in tissues and blood mimic

oxygen transport

New spinoff program has applications in laser weapons for ballistic missile defense.

Applications for Graduate School:

Before deciding on a graduate school we strongly recommend that you visit several schools and meet the faculty. Explore the curriculum and learn as much as possible about the research and the opportunities.

Graduate education includes an extensive curriculum.

Ph.D. students are expected to pass a Comprehensive Examination based on undergraduate physics in the first two years and defend a dissertation of original research.

Applications to UNH are due February 1.

Undergraduate Physics Education:

Advancing methods for undergraduate physics education.Working in concert with the Leitzel Center to further high

school science education.Our current work focuses on reform of the introductory

physics for life science majors: 1. Creating and assessing tutorials on fluid dynamics

including Bernoulli’s equation and viscosity 2. Investigating how to teach and assess model building